If Crown Molding 101 was offered as a class, people around the city would sign up. Crown molding is one of those features that can take a room from blah to beautiful. Details like crown molding, pocket doors, and ceiling medallions were once par for the course in NYC homes. They lent an air of grandeur and luxury that are missing in more modern, out-of-the-box construction. Luckily for you, if you live in a home that’s devoid of detail like crown molding, you can still add it to your place on your own. You’ll want to add it in a way that’s elegant and looks natural — instead of a way that makes it look like a bad reno. The following Crown Molding 101 tips can help.

1. Figure out how many rooms you want to do and how much you want to spend. Are you planning on adding molding to your entire home or to just one room? If it’s just being added to one room, is it just because the other rooms don’t need it or because you don’t think you have the budget? If the reason is budget, determine if doing only one room will throw off the flow of your space, and if you’ll mind. If it will drive you crazy to have several rooms left undone while focusing on the one, consider waiting until you have the budget to do it all at once. Of course, you may also discover that you only need the molding in one room.

2. Choose the best material that works for your budget and work plan. You can buy strips of crown molding in all styles, shapes, and sizes in stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s. Molding is usually made out of primed, medium-density fiberboard or wood, with wood being the more expensive option. You can try crown molding that’s been pre-painted or some that’s been pre-primed, like that made out of fiberboard or pine. Or you can use raw molding that requires priming, painting, or staining before it’s ready to shine.

3. Determine where you want to place the molding. Molding can be placed in many different places throughout your space.

Ceiling placement: Some people place it along the perimeter of the ceiling to create a stunning and elegant visual effect between the wall and the ceiling. Make sure you take the ceiling height of your room into account: Taller, larger rooms can easily accommodate wide, ornate trim while smaller rooms would do best with smaller molding strips that won’t overwhelm the space.

Lower wall/trim placement: When you place molding along lower parts of walls, you’re getting detailing that not only makes a room look more finished but that also protects walls from the scuff marks that come from chairs and other furnishings being pushed against the wall. Strategically placed trim can help give your room the luxe, rich vibe of gorgeous old brownstones.

4. Figure out how detailed you want to go. Crown molding can be simple, or it can be very intricate. Create the design yourself or hire an interior designer to give you some ideas. Gain inspiration from magazines, social media, and interior design sites. The hashtag #crownmolding produces thousands of offerings on Instagram, showcasing everything from beautiful examples to how-tos. This is a situation where utilizing the skills of an interior designer may work in your favor. A designer can listen to you and create a design that utilizes your wants while taking into account the space’s needs.

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